Access Bank Kenya closed 2025 with a loss of KES 702.2 million, an improvement on the KES 997.1 million loss recorded in 2024.
The reduction came from revenue growth across both funded and non-funded income lines, alongside a significant drop in interest expenses.
| Metric | FY2024 | FY2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss After Tax (KES m) | (997.1) | (702.2) | Narrowed by 29.6% |
| Net Interest Income (KES m) | 312.1 | 516.3 | +65.4% |
| Non-Funded Income (KES m) | 112.5 | 331.2 | +194.5% |
| Operating Income (KES m) | 425.6 | 847.5 | +99.5% |
| Total Assets (KES b) | 14.4 | 16.2 | +12.7% |
| Loans and Advances (KES b) | 3.5 | 2.6 | -25.6% |
| Gross Non-Performing Loans (KES m) | 467.2 | 478.9 | +2.5% |
| Liquidity Ratio | — | 79.4% | vs. CBK min ~20% |
| Core Capital (KES b) | 0.15 | 1.1 | +623% |
Net interest income grew 65.4% to KES 516.3 million, driven largely by a KES 320 million reduction in interest expenses to KES 791.1 million. Non-funded income nearly tripled, rising 194.5% to KES 331.2 million from KES 112.5 million a year earlier. Together, these pushed operating income up 99.5% to KES 847.5 million.
A Stronger Balance Sheet, a Smaller Loan Book
Total assets grew 12.7% to KES 16.2 billion, but not all lines moved in the same direction. Loans and advances contracted 25.6% to KES 2.6 billion, a deliberate pull-back that reflects caution around credit risk rather than a retreat from the market.
Gross non-performing loans edged up 2.5% to KES 478.9 million, signalling that asset quality remains under watch. The bank’s liquidity ratio reached 79.4%, nearly four times the minimum statutory requirement set by the Central Bank of Kenya. That buffer suggests the bank holds more than enough liquid assets relative to its obligations, even as it works through its credit challenges.
Core Capital Below the Regulatory Threshold
Access Bank Kenya’s core capital grew from KES 152.2 million in 2024 to KES 1.1 billion in 2025, a sevenfold increase. The growth is significant. It is not yet enough.
The Business Laws (Amendment) Act 2024 set a schedule of minimum core capital requirements that all commercial banks must meet progressively through to 2029:
| Deadline | Minimum Core Capital Requirement |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | KES 3 billion |
| December 2026 | KES 5 billion |
| December 2027 | KES 6 billion |
| December 2028 | KES 8 billion |
| December 2029 | KES 10 billion |
Access Bank Kenya closed 2025 at KES 1.1 billion, well below the KES 3 billion threshold that applied at year end. The regulator designed the phased schedule to give banks time to mobilise capital, but the gap remains material.
The Merger That Changes the Calculation
The bank’s Board of Directors has identified a path to compliance: a proposed merger with National Bank of Kenya, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Bank Kenya’s parent company, Access Bank Plc. NBK closed 2025 with core capital of KES 12.3 billion, well above the current and future thresholds set by the CBK. A merger between the two entities would consolidate that capital base and bring the combined institution into full regulatory compliance in one step.
The proposal is still subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
What the Numbers Signal
Access Bank Kenya enters 2026 with revenue momentum, a liquidity position that exceeds requirements, and a clear plan for resolving its capital shortfall. The loss narrowed by nearly 30% in a single year. Operating income doubled.
